The Living Laser!

A new criminal calling himself the Living Laser is testing out his trademark weapon by robbing a bank. His laser is able to cut through the bank vault and later cuts through the roof to make his escape from the authorities. He then tosses the money back into the bank as he has no use for it now that he has confirmed that his new weapon works. Due to the bizarre nature of the crime, the NYPD call in the Avengers for assistance. After their recent battle against the Sons of the Serpent, they look forward to dealing with something more mundane, like a bank robbery.[1] While the Avengers are investigating the crime scene, the Wasp runs into her old friend, Lucy Barton. Lucy is there because her father owns the bank and while the two are catching up Lucy spots her ex-boyfriend, Arthur Parks, lurking in the crowd. This bothers her because he took their break-up badly, and accused her of only getting engaged to her current fianceé because of his money.

Little does anyone know that Arthur Parks is also the Living Laser. He spots Lucy but immediately becomes attracted to the Wasp to the point where he can forget all about Lucy Barton. Forming an instant obsession, Arthur vows to make the Wasp fall in love with him. Returning to his home, Parks figures that his abilities as the Living Laser make him more powerful than Goliath and it will be fairly easy to steal Janet Van Dyne away from her titanic boyfriend. He then lurks outside Avengers Mansion waiting for Goliath and the Wasp to head back to their lab so Hank can continue working on a cure for his condition.[2] When Hank and Janet arrive home they discover Bill Foster working away in the lab. Bill has come back to work for Pym, apologizing for over-reacting when the Avengers pretended to side with the Sons of the Serpent in order to bring them down. Hank and Janet are happy that Bill is back, and soon the two scientists get down to work.

The trio is unaware that the Living Laser is spying on them through a hole he burned through the roof with his laser. He waits for the Wasp to leave for an appointment with her hairdresser before attacking Goliath. Telling Bill to run for cover, Goliath finds fighting in his home too restrictive and retreats into the nearby forest. There, Goliath has the advantage and he quickly knocks out the Living Laser. That’s when Captain America and Hawkeye arrive with news that the bank was broken into using a laser. However, with the capture of the Living Laser, their discovery becomes moot. The pair take the Living Laser and head back into the city to contain him, unaware that the Laser is playing possum. While Cap and Hawkeye are focused on flying their craft, the Living Laser cuts a hole in the floor of the ship and escapes. The sudden depressurization of the cabin forces the two Avengers to abandon the ship before it crashes into the river below.

Considering his escape from captivity a victory, the Living Laser returns to his home where he upgrades his laser, making it more powerful than ever before. He then begins terrorizing the city by using his laser to destroy buildings, aircraft, and ships at sea. While Pym continues working in his lab, the other Avengers have split up and are searching the city for the Living Laser. Eventually, Hawkeye spots the Laser ducking into a basement apartment. Soon, he and Captain America enter the building only to discover it is a trap. The two soon find themselves surrounded by laser beams that are inching closer to them every minute.[3] When the Wasp arrives and tries to save him, the Living Laser catches her in a vacuum-sealed jar and gassed into unconsciousness.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Goliath, Wasp, Hawkeye), Living Laser, Bill Foster, Black Widow, Lucy Barton

Continuity Notes

1. The Avengers battle with the Sons of the Serpent took place in Avengers #32-33.

2. Goliath has been trapped at a height of 10-feet since Avengers #28. He will be cured of this affliction next issue.

3. Captain America states here that his shield has been treated to a solution created by Tony Stark to withstand laser attacks. This same shield is destroyed by lasers next issue and Cap starts carrying a replacement. Technically speaking, Captain America’s trademark shield would not have needed a special coating because it is indestructible, as detailed first stated Tales of Suspense #94. Official Index to the Marvel Universe: Avengers suggests that Captain America was not using his usual shield, but one specially made to test out the laser-proof coating.